Shepherd Dismantles Mercyhurst, 49-14, To Reach DII Semifinals

ERIE, Pa. - Junior running back Nate Hoyte (Waldorf, MD/McDonough) rushed 17 times for 109 yards and four touchdowns and junior running back Tommy Addison (Germantown, MD/Quince Orchard) added 15 carries for 135 yards and a pair of scores to lead #18 Shepherd University to a 49-14 win over #11 Mercyhurst in NCAA II Super Region One final football action at Tullio Field on Saturday.

Shepherd took a 7-0 lead on a one-yard touchdown run by Addison with 11:57 left in the first quarter to cap a six-play, 53-yard drive. Junior kicker Eric Dobratz (Woodbridge, VA/Potomac) added the extra point.

Mercyhurst took advantage of a Ram turnover and answered back on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Travis Rearick to Terrence Coon with 11:30 left in the second quarter to tie the game at 7-all.

Shepherd regained the lead when Nate Hoyte scampered 14 yards for a score with 9:26 left in the second quarter to give the Rams a 14-7 advantage.

Bryant Kimball picked off a pass by senior quarterback Kevin Clancy (Westminster, MD/Westminster) weaved his way into the end zone for a 46-yard touchdown return with 3:42 left in the second half to tie the game at 14-14.

Mercyhurst had a chance to take a lead into the break on the final play of the half, but a 41-yard field goal attempt by Steven Wakefield went wide right.

Shepherd took a 21-14 lead on a 15-yard run by Hoyte with 6:06 left in the third quarter as the Rams drove 48 yards on six plays after an interception by sophomore defensive back Keon Robinson (Fairfax Station, VA/Lake Braddock).

The Rams extended their lead to 28-14 with 11:14 left in the fourth quarter on a 15-yard score by Hoyte.

Addison sprinted 69 yards for a touchdown with 10:04 left in the game to increase the Shepherd lead to 35-14.

Hoyte tacked on his fourth score on the day on a three-yard run with 6:04 remaining.

Senior defensive end Will Wheeler (Chantilly, VA/Westfield) returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown with 6:10 remaining for the games final tally.

Shepherd piled up 483 yards of total offense while limiting Mercyhurst to 225. The Rams defense allowed only 34 rushing yards.Junior wide receiver Robert Byrd (Alexandria, VA/Troy) had six catches for 106 yards and junior wide receiver Neal Hardie (Alexandria, VA/West Potomac) had six receptions for 88 yards to lead the Ram receiving corps. Coon had eight receptions for 107 yards for the Lakers.